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** Arlo plans to call the Shadow Pokemon schematic he's working on at the beginning of the fic {{VideoGame/Pokemon XD|GaleOfDarkness}}.
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** Arlo plans to call the Shadow Pokemon schematic he's working on at the beginning of the fic {{VideoGame/Pokemon XD|GaleOfDarkness}}.[[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness Pokémon XD]].
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** Arlo plans to call the Shadow Pokemon schematic he's working on at the beginning of the fic VideoGame/PokemonXD.
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** Arlo plans to call the Shadow Pokemon schematic he's working on at the beginning of the fic VideoGame/PokemonXD.{{VideoGame/Pokemon XD|GaleOfDarkness}}.
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* MerchandisingTheMonster: [[VideoGame/PokemonXD Cypher and Shadow Lugia]] are apparently popular enough in their home region of Orre for the resident Hot Topic parody to sell merchandise featuring them.
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* MerchandisingTheMonster: [[VideoGame/PokemonXD [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness Cypher and Shadow Lugia]] are apparently popular enough in their home region of Orre for the resident Hot Topic parody to sell merchandise featuring them.
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* EvilIsSexy: InUniverse, Spark isn't intimidated by Arlo's [[LargeHam hammy]] threats, but he does find them attractive.
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Gender Flipped has been disambiguated.
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* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: GenderFlipped with Spark. He describes both of his love interests as having "dark and edgy vibes". Arlo specifically works for a criminal organization and Candela mentions Spark's ex as having possibly been a supervillain.
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* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: GenderFlipped GenderInverted with Spark. He describes both of his love interests as having "dark and edgy vibes". Arlo specifically works for a criminal organization and Candela mentions Spark's ex as having possibly been a supervillain.
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* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: GenderFlipped with Spark, who serves as a softer and more outwardly affectionate counterpart to Arlo's {{Emo}} villain with a troubled past and difficulties showing affection.
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* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: GenderFlipped GenderInverted with Spark, who serves as a softer and more outwardly affectionate counterpart to Arlo's {{Emo}} villain with a troubled past and difficulties showing affection.
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Catchphrase has been disambiguated.
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* GeekyTurnOn: Arlo ends up using "I love you so much" as a CatchPhrase whenever Spark does something that fits his particular brand of geekdom, like addressing him as "dark lord" or making a Music/FallingInReverse reference.
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* GeekyTurnOn: Arlo ends up using "I love you so much" as a CatchPhrase catchphrase whenever Spark does something that fits his particular brand of geekdom, like addressing him as "dark lord" or making a Music/FallingInReverse reference.
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* GenderNeutralWriting: Elaphe, Spark's OriginalCharacter ex who is in a committed relationship with Blanche by the time of the fanfic, is never referred to with a gendered pronoun and doesn't have their gender identity described.
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* AMFMCharacterization: Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of PostHardcore and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
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* AMFMCharacterization: AMFMCharacterization:
** Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of PostHardcore and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
** Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of PostHardcore and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
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* LuminescentBlush: Arlo's reaction when Spark chooses to interpret one of his Pokestop takeover quotes in a UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} context.
-->"Team GO Rocket's domination is inevitable. Submit and you may be spared."
-->"All right, then. If that's what you're into! My safeword is 'cheeseburger pizza'."
-->Arlo's glasses abruptly returned to being transparent, revealing that his face was almost as red as that streak in his hair.
-->"Team GO Rocket's domination is inevitable. Submit and you may be spared."
-->"All right, then. If that's what you're into! My safeword is 'cheeseburger pizza'."
-->Arlo's glasses abruptly returned to being transparent, revealing that his face was almost as red as that streak in his hair.
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* LuminescentBlush: Arlo's reaction Arlo blushes deeply when Spark chooses to interpret one of his Pokestop takeover quotes in a UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} context.
-->"Team GO Rocket's domination is inevitable. Submit and you may be spared."
-->"All"\\
"All right, then. If that's what you're into! My safeword is 'cheeseburger pizza'."
-->Arlo's"\\
Arlo's glasses abruptly returned to being transparent, revealing that his face was almost as red as that streak in his hair.
-->"Team GO Rocket's domination is inevitable. Submit and you may be spared.
-->"All
"All right, then. If that's what you're into! My safeword is 'cheeseburger pizza'.
-->Arlo's
Arlo's glasses abruptly returned to being transparent, revealing that his face was almost as red as that streak in his hair.
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* {{Pun}}: Spark calls his Instagram his "Instinctgram".
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* {{Pun}}: {{Pun}}:
** Spark calls his Instagram his "Instinctgram".
** Spark calls his Instagram his "Instinctgram".
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* VehicleBasedCharacterization: Arlo drives a black sports car featuring a number of bumper stickers, including a [[YourMom sophomoric challenge to anyone complaining about his driving]], the insignia of several bands, and a faded Team Valor emblem. This establishes his immature personality, prioritization of edginess over practicality, and that he's not as disconnected from his past as he'd like to think.
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* VehicleBasedCharacterization: VehicleBasedCharacterization:
** Arlo drives a black sports car featuring a number of bumper stickers, including a [[YourMom sophomoric challenge to anyone complaining about his driving]], the insignia of several bands, and a faded Team Valor emblem. This establishes his immature personality, prioritization of edginess over practicality, and that he's not as disconnected from his past as he'd like to think.
** Arlo drives a black sports car featuring a number of bumper stickers, including a [[YourMom sophomoric challenge to anyone complaining about his driving]], the insignia of several bands, and a faded Team Valor emblem. This establishes his immature personality, prioritization of edginess over practicality, and that he's not as disconnected from his past as he'd like to think.
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Trope is now Flame Bait.
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* UnfortunateImplications: InUniverse, Arlo brings this up in reference to the completely submissive/scared {{Uke}} archetype being readable as normalizing abuse while he and Spark discuss how bad the movie they saw at the park was.
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Hot Scientist is no longer a trope
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* HotScientist: Arlo claims to consider Professor Willow to have a pretty good ass for his age. Of course, he might just be saying it to {{Troll}} and {{Squick}} out Candela and Blanche, who consider him equivalent to their dad.
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Guys Being Dudes is a ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' SlashFic written by Enforcer at [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org Draggian Universe]], also known as Tropers/NonexistentYeets.
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* AdaptationalJerkass: Candela is notably meaner than she is in canon, displaying more snark and petty behavior towards her coworkers and more direct dislike of Arlo beyond her canonical feelings about her former friend joining Team GO Rocket.
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* AdaptationalJerkass: AdaptationalJerkass:
** Candela is notably meaner than she is in canon, displaying more snark and petty behavior towards her coworkers and more direct dislike of Arlo beyond her canonical feelings about her former friend joining Team GO Rocket.
** Candela is notably meaner than she is in canon, displaying more snark and petty behavior towards her coworkers and more direct dislike of Arlo beyond her canonical feelings about her former friend joining Team GO Rocket.
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* AMFMCharacterization: Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
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* AMFMCharacterization: Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of PostHardcore and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
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* ConversationalTroping: Happens several times, including Spark and Arlo discussing cliche YaoiGenre relationship dynamics and how they don't quite fit their situation, Candela pointing out the use of SheIsNotMyGirlfriend in RomanticComedy, and Arlo infodumping to Spark about {{Isekai}] during the movie they watch at the park, which we don't get to see.
to:
* ConversationalTroping: Happens several times, including Spark and Arlo discussing cliche YaoiGenre relationship dynamics and how they don't quite fit their situation, Candela pointing out the use of SheIsNotMyGirlfriend in RomanticComedy, and Arlo infodumping to Spark about {{Isekai}] {{Isekai}} during the movie they watch at the park, which we don't get to see.
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''Guys Being Dudes'' is a ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' SlashFic written by Enforcer at [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org Draggian Universe]], also known as Tropers/NonexistentYeets.
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''Guys Being Dudes'' is a VideoGame/PokemonGo SlashFic written by Enforcer at [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org Draggian Universe]], also known as Tropers/NonexistentYeets.
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''Guys Being Dudes'' is a VideoGame/PokemonGo ''VideoGame/PokemonGo'' SlashFic written by Enforcer at [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org Draggian Universe]], also known as Tropers/NonexistentYeets.
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It was published on August 30, 2022 and can be read on the author's Neocities [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org/guysbeingdudes/chapter01.html here]].
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It was published on
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* AngelDevilShipping: The main focus of the fanfic is a romance between the nicest of the team leaders, known for his nurturing nature towards Pokemon, and a member of a villainous team with a RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver aesthetic who's compared to a demon from a ShowWithinAShow.
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* EvilIsSexy: Spark isn't intimidated by Arlo's [[LargeHam hammy]] threats, but he does find them attractive.
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* EvilIsSexy: InUniverse, Spark isn't intimidated by Arlo's [[LargeHam hammy]] threats, but he does find them attractive.
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* STDImmunity: Averted. Before leaving Spark and Arlo to do whatever it is they do, Sierra interrogates them to make sure they've both been tested and are clean. Blanche also gives Arlo a lecture about safe sex during their and Candela's vetting of him as a love interest for Spark.
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* STDImmunity: Averted. Before leaving Spark and Arlo to do whatever it is they do, do when Spark spends the night at Team GO Rocket HQ, Sierra interrogates them to make sure they've both been tested and are clean. Blanche also gives Arlo a lecture about safe sex during their and Candela's vetting of him as a love interest for Spark.
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->"This was a cute concept one-shot I thought of while hyperfixating in preparation for Go Fest 2022 which somehow became the longest thing I'd ever written up to that point and reinvigorated my thoughts about how the Pokémon Go universe and its characters worked. So, yeah! It's cute, gay, emo, and has the Enforcer ethos you love in a...much happier setting than the [=WHATverse=]."
-->Blurb from [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org/fanfic.html the author's Neocities]].
''Guys Being Dudes'' is a VideoGame/PokemonGo SlashFic written by Enforcer at [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org Draggian Universe]], also known as Tropers/NonexistentYeets.
In the months following Pokemon GO Tour: Johto, Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo has been deteriorating courtesy of his angst about his history with Candela. Sierra gets sick of it and gives him a single instruction: YouNeedToGetLaid.
So he does. [[DatingCatwoman With Spark]]. During the Go Fest 2022 kickoff event.
WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong
It was published on August 30, 2022 and can be read on the author's Neocities [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org/guysbeingdudes/chapter01.html here]].
!!Tropes Being Dudes:
* AbandonedPlayground: Spark and Arlo hang out at one of these near the park Go Fest is taking place at during Day 2 so they'll technically be at the park, but difficult for Spark's colleagues to find.
* AbsentMindedProfessor: Arlo is smart enough to have spearheaded Team GO Rocket's Shadow Pokemon program and oblivious enough that not only does he have to have someone walk with him to remind him of oncoming pedestrians and low-hanging trees, he doesn't notice impending DeathFromAbove when he's busy doing research on his phone.
* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: Along with several characters gaining {{Emo}} tendencies, Arlo and Candela's previous relationship and its weight on them both is given more elaboration than the source material.
* AdaptationalGenderIdentity:
**Arlo's gender isn't elaborated on in canon. He's explicitly stated to be a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} man here.
**Spark is still a man, "more or less", but mentions not fully connecting with any label, including "nonbinary".
**Blanche is referred to with neutral pronouns in canon, but their gender identity is left up to interpretation. Here, they're explicitly stated to be nonbinary.
**At the time this fanfic was written, Rhi hadn't gotten a gender confirmation in English, but most sources described them as male. They're nonbinary here.
* AdaptationalJerkass: Candela is notably meaner than she is in canon, displaying more snark and petty behavior towards her coworkers and more direct dislike of Arlo beyond her canonical feelings about her former friend joining Team GO Rocket.
**Sierra is written as AffablyEvil in her canon dialogue. Here, she states that she joined Team GO Rocket to crush people's dreams and is the least sympathetic of her trio.
* AdaptationalNationality: No one's nationalities are stated in canon. Candela and Arlo are stated to originate in regions from elsewhere in Pokemon canon, [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Orre]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto]] respectively.
* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Arlo maintains his canonical arrogance and displays more CardCarryingVillain tendencies, but is revealed to be a nice, EndearinglyDorky person underneath with most of his arrogance being a facade.
* AdaptationalRelationshipOverhaul: Nothing is revealed about Candela and Arlo's past in canon other than that they used to be friends and on Team Valor together. Here, they're ex-lovers.
* AdaptationalSexuality: No one's sexualities are elaborated on in canon. Here, Arlo and Candela are explicitly bi, Blanche has an OriginalCharacter partner who is only referred to neutrally, and Spark has been attracted to both Arlo and the same OC. Cliff is heavily implied to be gay and it's suggested he joined Team GO Rocket because of his attraction to Giovanni.
* AffectionateGestureToTheHead: Both members of the main couple regularly pet or run their fingers through each other's hair.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: GenderFlipped with Spark. He describes both of his love interests as having "dark and edgy vibes". Arlo specifically works for a criminal organization and Candela mentions Spark's ex as having possibly been a supervillain.
* AllergicToLove: Sierra mentions that seeing Spark and Arlo happy makes her feel physically ill, along with Shaymin's cuteness and good vibes in general.
* AMFMCharacterization: Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
** Spark listens to {{Nightcore}} and girly dance-pop, demonstrating that he's InTouchWithHisFeminineSide, unabashedly enjoys "uncool" things, and in the case of the Nightcore, tried his best to find common ground with his dark and edgy ex despite their opposing tastes.
** In Blanche's car, they play inoffensive, lyric-free synth music at a reasonable enough volume that everyone can hear each other and the road, demonstrating their focus on safety and no-nonsense nature.
* AmicableExes: Despite her bitterness towards Arlo from their past as teammates and ex-lovers, Candela still gets along well enough with him to have been willing to get drunk with the Team GO Rocket trio after Go Fest 2020.
* AngelDevilShipping: The main focus of the fanfic is a romance between the nicest of the team leaders, known for his nurturing nature towards Pokemon, and a member of a villainous team with a RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver aesthetic who's compared to a demon from a ShowWithinAShow.
* AnimeHair: Spark's hair is [[SpikyHair spiky]] all on its own to the point that it [[StubbornHair blatantly refuses to be shaped into any other style]].
* AutoErotica: There's a flashback of Candela and Arlo making out in the back of her car when he comes out to her. Spark and Arlo do the same in Arlo's car after their visit to the Sleepless Bakery.
* BallsGag: On the drive to Team GO Rocket HQ, Spark and Arlo discuss this in reference to Pokeballs.
* BigDamnHeroes: Spark saving Arlo from the falling play structure.
* BlindIdiotTranslation: InUniverse, Orre Hot Topic parody Subject Debate's Shadow Lugia shirt is supposed to say their name in [[GratuitousJapanese Gratuitous Kantonian]], but what's actually printed translates to "sex scandal". Arlo, being both of Kantonian ancestry and sophomoric, finds this hilarious and it's one of his factors in buying the shirt.
* BrainsAndBondage: Arlo is just as much of an EvilGenius as in canon and gets very excited over the prospect of strapping Spark into the trunk of Team GO Rocket's CreepyStalkerVan.
* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: GenderFlipped with Spark, who serves as a softer and more outwardly affectionate counterpart to Arlo's {{Emo}} villain with a troubled past and difficulties showing affection.
* TheBroCode: Candela invokes this by name when describing how enraged she is about Spark dating her ex-boyfriend, who happens to also be [[DatingCatwoman opposite in moral alignment from them]].
* CantHoldHisLiquor: After only 2 beers at the Go Fest 2020 afterparty, Arlo ends up sitting in Spark's lap and attempting to bribe the Team Instinct leader into giving him a piggyback ride. Candela points out that it's either this or that he wasn't actually that drunk and was just using it as an excuse to get to someone he liked, with the former being unlikely, as evidence for the fact that Arlo had been attracted to Spark for a while and just used getting back at her as an excuse to get close to him.
* CantYouReadTheSign: Arlo's actions managed to get the Sleepless Bakery to put up a sign reading "No Monologuing". They also have a "No [=PDAs=]" sign, which gets used on the main couple.
* CardCarryingJerkass: Arlo literally has business cards reading "Professional Douchebag". Apparently Sierra printed them as a joke, but he keeps them around, implying that he doesn't find the title incorrect. His official reason is that they're well-made and accurately list his credentials and contact information, so he's not going to waste them.
* CardCarryingVillain: 2 out of 3 members of the Team GO Rocket trio regularly refer to themselves as "evil", say they got into the business to crush people's dreams, and that sort of thing.
* CastFullOfGay: All of the team leaders, Arlo, and Cliff are stated to be some flavor of queer.
* CavemenVsAstronautsDebate: Arlo and Candela had a Pokemon battle once over her saying [[Music/EscapeTheFate This War Is Ours was superior to Dying Is Your Latest Fashion]].
* CeilingBanger: One of the factors that drives Sierra to decide Arlo [[YouNeedToGetLaid needs to get laid]] in order to stop his descent into {{Emo}} madness is that he's been blasting {{Metalcore}} at all hours of the day and night, she lives in the room next to him, and she hasn't gotten a good night's sleep in weeks.
* CirclingMonologue: Candela paces in circles around a restrained Arlo, dissecting how the OperationJealousy he planned againt her by dating Spark wouldn't have worked and he likely knew it, suggesting he just used it as an excuse to get close to Spark.
* ClosetKey: Arlo's first response to Spark asking if he even liked guys was "Not sure. Want to find out?", implying Spark is his first male partner. It turned out that he did.
* ClosetShuffle: When Arlo smuggles Spark into Team GO Rocket HQ, he hides them in the closet in his room. The pun on the other meaning of "closet" is lampshaded by Spark and not only does Sierra see right through it, she interprets it as a LiteralMetaphor and states that Arlo really didn't need to go to all that trouble to tell them he was bisexual.
* ConversationalTroping: Happens several times, including Spark and Arlo discussing cliche YaoiGenre relationship dynamics and how they don't quite fit their situation, Candela pointing out the use of SheIsNotMyGirlfriend in RomanticComedy, and Arlo infodumping to Spark about {{Isekai}] during the movie they watch at the park, which we don't get to see.
* CoordinatedClothes: Elaphe got Spark an {{Emo}} band hoodie back when they were dating in hopes of being "one of those matchy couples", but Spark couldn't quite pull off the aesthetic and ended up not wearing it much.
* TheCorrupter: At least as a joke, Arlo enjoys getting Spark to do irresponsible or morally sketchy acts and discusses the possibility of "converting" him to TheDarkSide.
* CrackInTheSky: A glowing one of these appears on Go Fest Day 1 as the first sign of the Ultra Wormhole that will open the following day.
* CreepyStalkerVan: Team GO Rocket's official vehicle is a black, windowless van. It's so ObviouslyEvil that Spark points out that they're probably just making themselves more conspicuous.
* CrossoverCosmology: XM from VideoGame/{{Ingress}} is real in this version of the Pokemon GO universe (doubling as a [[CompanyCrossReferences Niantic cross-reference]]) and is what powers up Shadow Pokemon and raid bosses. It's also referred to as "animum", a term used for AppliedPhlebotinum in the author's other works, which take place in a different universe entirely.
* CrushBlush: Both halves of the main couple, especially Arlo, find their faces flushing a lot when they're around each other.
* CryIntoChest: Arlo grabs onto Spark and does this after Spark revives from passing out after [[ItMakesSenseInContext saving him from a falling playground structure]].
* DarkerAndEdgier: It's still the fundamentally idealistic world of VideoGame/PokemonGo and most of the edgy content is lampshaded and PlayedForLaughs, but multiple characters gain {{Emo}} tendencies, the fic doesn't shy away from sexual innuendo, death threats, and pointing out that Pokemon are capable of killing humans, and everyone is more inclined to snark at their coworkers and enemies alike than in canon.
* DatingCatwoman: The main couple consists of one of the leaders of the player teams and an admin from the main antagonistic team.
* DeathFromAbove: On a smaller scale, the AbandonedPlayground Spark and Arlo have their picnic at almost falls down on Arlo after losing what stability remained to a Shaymin's Seed Flare.
* DemonicPossession: As part of their CrazyPrepared vetting of his viability as a LoveInterest for Spark, Blanche checks Arlo for this via looking for MindControlEyes.
* DidTheyOrDidntThey: It's never stated whether Spark and Arlo had sex during the first night they spent together in Team GO Rocket HQ. They discuss it and then the scene cuts to Sierra and Cliff's annoyance at the LoudOfWar Sierra technically okayed them using to obscure any sounds they made.
* DidYouJustHaveSex: Sierra can't tell, seeing as Arlo always has some degree of warranted swagger and they both tend to have MessyHair and otherwise disheveled looks.
* DisabledInTheAdaptation: It's only mentioned once, but Candela and Arlo both are reimagined as having ADHD.
* DragonRider: Arlo picks up Spark for their first date on his Salamence, which they ride to and from the restaurant.
* EatingTheEyeCandy: Spark's disguise when he has to sleep at Team GO Rocket HQ includes some very tight pants, which Arlo evidently appreciates. Both halves of the main couple also spend quite a lot of time staring up and down each other's chests.
* ElectricLove: A logical extension from Spark's [[ElementalMotifs Elemental Motif]] from canon. The first time Arlo pets his hair during Day 1 of Go Fest in the conversation during which they officially declare themselves as boyfriends, he gets a static shock from it.
* EmoTeen: Arlo's in his 20s, but has all of the hallmarks of the archetype, being a [[LargeHam theatrical]] young man with black and red NonconformistDyedHair who listens to PostHardcore and spends a lot of time angsting about his ex. Several characters describe him as "edgy" or "emo" InUniverse. His most regular outfit is a baggy black hoodie and before joining Team Rocket, he owned at least one entire outfit from a [[FictionalCounterpart Hot Topic parody]].
* EndearinglyDorky: Both halves of the main couple feel this way about the other one. Spark appreciates Arlo trying so hard to be menacing, evil, and edgy and failing at such and Arlo can't help but smile at seeing the Team Instinct leader unabashedly dancing to {{Nightcore}}.
* EvilGenius: Arlo serves as the brains of the Team GO Rocket trio, being the most book-smart member and knowledgable about Pokemon and technology.
* EvilIsSexy: Spark isn't intimidated by Arlo's [[LargeHam hammy]] threats, but he does find them attractive.
* EvilPaysBetter: It's briefly mentioned that Arlo gets paid more than Candela, and presumably the other team leaders, do.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Invoked by Arlo. The voice distortion on his glasses gives his voice more depth and reverb when he takes over Pokestops. He also uses it with pitch alone when he's off the clock for gender affirmation purposes.
* ExhaustedEyeBags: When Arlo is seen in his bad state at the start of the story, his eyes are covered in some combination of dark bags and {{Guyliner}}, implying that along with not bathing or cleaning his room, he also hasn't been sleeping well.
* EyeColorChange: According to Arlo, his eyes used to be blue before turning red after he finished his work on the first Shadow Pokemon. It's backed up by a picture from before he joined Team GO Rocket, but it's [[UnreliableNarrator unclear if]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane his eyes turned red due to corrupted XM exposure or if he's wearing colored contacts]].
* FakeRelationship: This was Arlo's original plan in seducing Spark. Suffice to say, it didn't go as planned.
* FictionalCounterpart: While some things, like online services and bands, exist in their forms on Earth, companies appear to be replaced with counterparts. Subject Debate and the Sleepless Bakery serve as counterparts to Hot Topic and Insomnia Cookies, respectively.
* ForgetsToEat: Arlo admits to doing this himself and Spark mentions that Blanche also tends to.
* {{Fratbro}}: Arlo used to dress and behave as one of these while dating Candela, which he's deeply embarrassed about.
* {{Flashback}}: While he's unpacking his old clothes from Subject Debate in Orre to wear on Go Fest Day 2, seeing a sticky note from Candela starts Arlo on one about their past relationship.
* ForgottenBirthday: Spark doesn't usually celebrate his birthday because it falls during Go Fest preparation season.
* FreudianThreat: Candela threatens to rip Arlo's balls off if he [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer ever does anything to hurt Spark]]. Seeing as the intended recipient of the threat is transgender and thus lacking in that body part at the time the threat was made, it doesn't quite land.
* {{Gaydar}}: Despite not having direct knowledge of Arlo's being into guys, Candela is able to quickly assess based on his reactions to her interrogation and reports of his behavior that his attraction to Spark is not only legitimate, he's had it since at least 2020.
* GeekyTurnOn: Arlo ends up using "I love you so much" as a CatchPhrase whenever Spark does something that fits his particular brand of geekdom, like addressing him as "dark lord" or making a Music/FallingInReverse reference.
* GenderNeutralWriting: Elaphe, Spark's OriginalCharacter ex who is in a committed relationship with Blanche by the time of the fanfic, is never referred to with a gendered pronoun and doesn't have their gender identity described.
* GeniusSlob: Arlo is knowledgable about hacking and Pokemon and serves as the head of his organization's R&D department. His room is an absolute disaster area, with his floor usually being covered in stolen Pokeballs and laundry and it's implied by Candela that it may have been years since he washed his sheets. He's seen at the beginning of the story not having changed clothes or showered in weeks.
* GeniusSweetTooth: According to Arlo, his late-night research is powered by cupcake deliveries from the Sleepless Bakery.
* GloveSnap: Blanche does this before interrogating Arlo about his and Spark's relationships and it's specifically lampshaded as "like how doctors do in movies before they shove something up someone's anus".
* GogglesDoSomethingUnusual: Arlo's glasses seem to do just about everything but correcting vision, including having AugmentedReality capabilities, answering phone calls, obscuring his voice, and becoming ScaryShinyGlasses.
* GrammarNazi: Arlo regularly corrects other people's grammar, which Spark finds endearing. His colleagues just find it annoying.
* GreenThumb: As in Pokemon canon, Shaymin has the power to regrow dead plants and restore polluted land. This is expanded to being able to remove pesticides as well, with the park grass it restores coming back dotted with native ground cover and wildflowers.
* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Candela brought a keg to Go Fest 2020, against Pokemon League regulations and her dialogue about it with Blanche suggests she's done similar things before. Based on the notice directed towards her in Blanche's car, she drinks regularly.
* HeCleansUpNicely: After first appearing having worn the same hoodie for several weeks and using body spray instead of showering, Arlo does laundry, cleans himself up, and appears for his first date with Spark in a suit, prompting this reaction from the Team Instinct leader.
* HeIsNotMyBoyfriend: Said by both halves of the main couple about each other. Lampshaded in its nature as denial by Candela.
-->"Arlo, remember when you used to take me to watch rom-coms because it made you feel like the ultimate cishet guy? ...I'd like you to name one of those rom-coms in which someone said someone wasn't their boyfriend and/or girlfriend and wasn't wrong."
* [[HerBoyfriendsJacket His Boyfriend's Jacket]]: At one point, Arlo ends up wearing one of Spark's hoodies. PlayedWith in that it isn't a hoodie Spark usually wears; it's one his ex gave him when they wanted them to have CoordinatedClothes.
* HeroicRROD: Spark experiences intense pain and passes out after his BigDamnHeroes moment rescuing Arlo from the falling AbandonedPlayground, until Shaymin heals him.
* HeyThatsMyLine: Arlo has this response after Candela calls him and Spark "twerps", a common line used by Team Rocket members throughout Pokemon canon.
* HoldingHands: Spark and Arlo hold hands during their entire visit to the night market while trying to invoke MakeOutKids.
* HoldYourHippogriffs: While insulting Arlo's haircut, Candela references a "flock of Wingulls".
* HopeCrusher: Sierra claims that she joined Team GO Rocket specifically to crush people's dreams.
* HotScientist: Arlo claims to consider Professor Willow to have a pretty good ass for his age. Of course, he might just be saying it to {{Troll}} and {{Squick}} out Candela and Blanche, who consider him equivalent to their dad.
* HumanShield: When Rhi jokingly, without anyone knowing it's a joke, threatens Arlo with their plasma cannons, he ducks behind Spark as a meat shield.
* IdTellYouButThenIdHaveToKillYou: Arlo says this as a joke when Spark asks about how he can do ScaryShinyGlasses without blinding himself.
* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: Candela makes a FreudianThreat of this nature to Arlo concerning Spark, and acknowledges it as a cliche.
* TheILoveYouStigma: Until the very end of the fic, Arlo feels weird whenever he says "I love you" to Spark, even in a joking context or when it's to annoy someone else.
* IndirectKiss: Spark and Arlo have one of these during their picnic on Go Fest Day 2 when they share a protein bar.
* InterruptedIntimacy: Candela and Blanche approach to introduce Rhi and question why Spark wasn't at the emergency meeting on Day 2 while Spark and Arlo are making out. Invoked on Candela's part since it let them get in while the couple were distracted.
* JerksUseBodySpray: Arlo does, fitting his [[CardCarryingJerkass card-carrying douchebag status]] and [[{{Manchild}} middle school boy personality]] and several jokes about it are made at his expense by both sets of team leaders. It becomes plot-relevant when a Shaymin absorbs it. Turns out it's toxic enough that it supercharges the Pokemon's Seed Flare.
* TheLadette: Candela is described by Arlo as a "jockbro", has HardDrinkingPartyGirl tendencies, mercilessly teases her coworkers and enemies alike, and invokes TheBroCode by name in reference to her issues with Spark dating her ex.
* LamePunReaction: Arlo groans whenever he sees Spark's Instagram, which he calls his "Instinctgram".
* LargeHam: Arlo's lines while taking over Pokestops are...grandiose, to say the least, and he accentuates them with overblown pretentious gestures. He apparently wrote them shortly after his breakup with Candela, which might explain some of it.
* LastHetRomance: While the gender of Spark's ex is never specified, apparently after their relationship, they realized they didn't like men and proceeded to leave him for Blanche.
* LoudOfWar: In case Spark and Arlo have sex during the first night they spend together at Team GO Rocket HQ, Sierra specifically gives Arlo permission to blast whatever music he wants as loud as he wants in an effort to avert RightThroughTheWall. So, Arlo, being the {{Troll}} he is, chooses to blast a meme song that Sierra hates, heavily implied to be [[Music/LilNasX "Old Town Road"]], at maximum volume.
* LuminescentBlush: Arlo's reaction when Spark chooses to interpret one of his Pokestop takeover quotes in a UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} context.
-->"Team GO Rocket's domination is inevitable. Submit and you may be spared."
-->"All right, then. If that's what you're into! My safeword is 'cheeseburger pizza'."
-->Arlo's glasses abruptly returned to being transparent, revealing that his face was almost as red as that streak in his hair.
* MagicalGirlfriend: Jokingly discussed by Arlo after Spark, probably jokingly, mentions the possibility of his hair always being spiky because he's part Zapdos on his mother's side.
* MakeOutKids: Spark and Arlo specifically invoke this during their visit to the night market on Spark's birthday, by his request because his ex had too much dignity to do it with him. They spend the entire time holding hands and making out in specifically visible locations, just in the name of invoking the trope and being obnoxious.
* TheMakeover: After Arlo comes out to her as a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} man during the {{Flashback}} to their relationship before Team Valor, Candela decides to take him to the mall for one of these to get him some more masculine clothes.
* {{Manchild}}: Arlo is in his 20s and has the personality of an EmoTeen as well as enjoying making innuendos a bit too much. Spark acknowledges it, deciding that he, being a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} man, "couldn't be a preteen boy when he was a preteen, so he's making up for lost time".
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Whatever Spark did to save Arlo from the falling AbandonedPlayground isn't explained. Arlo points out that him seemingly demonstrating SuperStrength isn't implausible for someone saving their loved one, but his hair glowing and the pieces of the playground looking like they were struck by lightning don't have as easy of explanations.
* MenCantKeepHouse: Arlo's room is an absolute mess. The floor is covered in laundry and stolen Pokeballs, he's implied to not wash his sheets regularly, and the area around his computer is the only part he cleans. He also needs to be reminded to take his leftovers out of the communal fridge before they [[ItCameFromTheFridge develop their own ecosystems]].
* MerchandisingTheMonster: [[VideoGame/PokemonXD Cypher and Shadow Lugia]] are apparently popular enough in their home region of Orre for the resident Hot Topic parody to sell merchandise featuring them.
* MessOfWoe: In his angsty state at the start of the fanfic, Arlo has neglected to shower, change clothes, or clean his room in weeks.
* MindControlEyes: According to Blanche, when someone is possessed by a Pokemon, their eyes may appear an unusual color or not reflect and they won't blink when exposed to bright light.
* MisfitLabRat: Arlo is imagined as an overgrown EmoTeen here and retains his position as Team GO Rocket's main scientist.
* TheMissusAndTheEx: Arlo runs into this situation on Go Fest Day 2, with Spark as the Missus and Candela as the Ex, in a variant in which the Missus and the Ex were already friends and coworkers without his involvement.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Seeing as he's established as a Music/FallingInReverse fan, Arlo's Charizard, Ronnie, is probably named after Ronnie Radke.
* NonHumanNonBinary: AmbiguouslyHuman Ultra Space traveler Rhi identifies themself as nonbinary because they don't understand the humans of Pokemon Go's world's concept of gender.
* NotAMorningPerson: Arlo isn't exactly coherent when he wakes up on Go Fest Day 1 and it's stated that it will take 2 hours for him to become fully sapient.
* OhMyGods: At one point, Blanche swears to "whatever is listening".
* OneHeadTaller: Spark is substantially taller than Arlo. Justified by the latter being UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}}.
* OlderThanTheyLook: When Arlo and Candela were dating as young adults, he regularly got mistaken for a middle schooler.
* OperationJealousy: Arlo initially plans this in his relationship with Spark, under the principle that Candela seeing him with someone else will drive her to win him back, combined with him dating her coworker making it impossible to avoid and Spark being a man leading Candela to fear that she was his LastHetRomance and try even harder to win him back upon fear that she "turned him gay". None of this goes as planned.
* ParkingProblems: The Team GO Rocket trio end up parking their CreepyStalkerVan at a shopping center next to the park Go Fest takes place at because it's rather large and Sierra refuses to park next to anyone.
* PlayingWithFire: Arlo's Charizard gets ready to power up a Blast Burn when he turns to attack the Shaymin for nearly getting him killed by knocking over the AbandonedPlayground and getting Spark injured saving him. The Charizard is also shown to boost his powers by dropping wood shavings from the playground into the flame on his tail.
* PoliticallyCorrectVillain: Not only are all of the Team Rocket representatives we see completely accepting of Arlo being transgender and dating a man, their healthcare plan also covers gender-affirming surgeries and they support name changes.
* PowerGlows: After Spark does something that [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane might be]] activating ShockAndAwe powers to save Arlo, his hair glows.
* ThePowerOfLove: Somehow, Spark manages to demonstrate SuperStrength and possibly ShockAndAwe powers when Arlo is in danger of DeathFromAbove when the AbandonedPlayground gets hit with Shaymin's Seed Flare and is about to fall down on him.
* PsychoExBoyfriend: [[SignedUpForTheDental Among other reasons]], Arlo initially joined Team GO Rocket because he wanted to see Candela suffer and defy everything she stood for after they broke up.
* {{Pun}}: Spark calls his Instagram his "Instinctgram".
** "Over The Edge", the title of the first chapter, both refers to Arlo's deteriorating mental state at the start of the fic and is a pun on "edgy".
* PunchClockVillain: Arlo is very into the aesthetic of being a CardCarryingVillain and regularly refers to himself as "evil", but treats the actual Shadow Pokemon manufacturing and Pokestop takeovers like any other job. He even refers to being "on/off the clock".
* PunkInTheTrunk: Spark gets transported to Go Fest in the trunk of Team GO Rocket's CreepyStalkerVan, both to hide him from view and because they don't have seats in the back.
* PurelyAestheticGlasses: Arlo's glasses don't correct his vision and it's suggested by Spark that he might just wear them to look more intimidating, but they do have other purposes including AugmentedReality and obscuring his voice when he's doing Pokestop takeovers.
* QueerColors: Candela has a pin of the Team Valor emblem in the bisexual flag colors.
* QueerEstablishingMoment: Arlo is established as being UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} when he asks about where Sierra left his binder after doing his laundry.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: The main colors of Arlo's outfit and hair, as in canon.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: As in the source material, Team GO Rocket's Shadow Pokemon have these. Arlo also does. It's ambiguous why, but it's implied it may have been due to exposure to corrupted XM while creating the Shadow Pokemon.
* RevengeRomance: This is why Arlo chooses Spark, one of Candela's coworkers, for his OperationJealousy. Or at least that's what he tells himself.
* RightThroughTheWall: Specifically Defied by Sierra, who instructs Spark and Arlo to blast whatever music they want as loud as they want specifically so she doesn't hear them having sex if they choose to.
* RomanticFakeRealTurn: Arlo initially claims that he's only going on the date with Spark to get back at Candela and fulfill Sierra's [[YouNeedToGetLaid assignment]]. That quickly evaporates after their first date and a revealing video chat.
* RomanticRibbing: Spark and Arlo get in a couple good-natured jabs at each other's expense. Candela also apparently solely addressed the latter as "Emo Trashlord" during the early stages of their relationship, both as this and because he wouldn't tell her his name.
* SafeWord: Spark's is apparently "cheeseburger pizza". Arlo points out that if they actually do anything ([[DidTheyOrDidntThey it's ambiguous if they do or not]]), "no" will suffice.
* {{Sarashi}}: Candela learned this technique during a martial arts camp and shows it to Arlo during the {{Flashback}} so he can use it to bind his chest until his dedicated binder arrives.
* ScaryShinyGlasses: Arlo's glasses can do this, and he activates it whenever he wants to look especially evil. Seeing as his glasses have [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual a number of bizarre capabilities]], it seems likely that he specifically modified them to do this.
* SelfieFiend: Spark logs nearly everything to his Instagram and takes a lot of selfies with Arlo when they're playing at being MakeOutKids at the night market.
* SentimentalDrunk: CardCarryingJerkass Arlo got reduced to sitting in Spark's lap and admitting to having followed him on Instagram back at Go Fest 2020 after [[CantHoldHisLiquor only having 2 beers]], according to Candela.
* SeriousBusiness: Arlo apparently cares enough about edgelording that he thinks it should have a regulating bureau.
* ShirtlessScene: Spark spends a good portion of Go Fest Day 2 shirtless after giving his hoodie to Arlo.
* ShockAndAwe: It's not exactly clear what happened, but the pieces of the fallen AbandonedPlayground Spark intercepted to save Arlo are described as being charred and split like they were struck by lightning.
* ShoppingMontage: Arlo has an extended {{Flashback}} of him and Candela, among other things, going shopping at a mall when he starts thinking about their past relationship.
* ShorterMeansSmarter: Arlo is short enough that he regularly got mistaken for a middle schooler while dating Candela and is TheSmartGuy of his trio.
* TheShortGuyWithGlasses: Arlo is described as short, wears glasses, and is the most book-smart of the Team GO Rocket leaders. Of course, his glasses are [[PurelyAestheticGlasses purely aesthetic]].
* ShoutOut:
** Arlo makes plenty of references to his music tastes throughout. Bands namedropped include Music/MyChemicalRomance, Music/BringMeTheHorizon, Music/EscapeTheFate, and Music/FallingInReverse.
** Arlo alludes to the Team Rocket motto from [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries the Pokemon anime]] when Sierra claims their motto is "Team GO Rocket doesn't give a shit about your personal life."
** After Candela called Arlo {{Tsundere}} back when they were dating, he went on a WikiWalk after looking it up on a site that's strongly implied to be Website/ThisVeryWiki.
** Not only does Arlo play VideoGame/{{Ingress}}, XM is also apparently literally real and what provides the power boost to Shadow Pokemon and raid bosses.
** One of Blanche's car magnets reads "Honk IFF you love formal logic", a reference to Webcomic/{{XKCD}}.
** While Spark and Arlo are discussing the linguistics of song lyrics, they come to the conclusion in reference to "Tik Tok" that if Music/{{Kesha}} entered and then left a party, it would produce a universe-destroying singularity.
** A song about horses that was a meme several years prior and which [[TakeThat both Sierra and Arlo hate]], but Sierra hates more, is mentioned. Based on the fic being set in 2022, it's a reference to [[Music/LilNasX "Old Town Road"]] and its MemeticMutation status.
** Arlo plans to call the Shadow Pokemon schematic he's working on at the beginning of the fic VideoGame/PokemonXD.
* ShowWithinAShow: ''My Edgelord Phase Summoned The Demon King Who Made Me His Boyfriend'', the movie Spark and Arlo watch at the park.
* SickeninglySweet: Sierra says that after Day 1, if she hears one more word about how cute Shaymin is, she's going to hurl.
* SignedUpForTheDental: Along with {{Revenge}} against Candela, Arlo joined Team Rocket because their healthcare plan covered his transition, they provided room and board, and they had mechanisms for name changes.
* SlashFic: It's a VideoGame/PokemonGo fanfic focused on a romantic relationship between two male characters.
* SleepCute: On their first night sleeping together because [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed there was only one bed]], Arlo ends up curled up on Spark's chest with the latter's arms around him. Sierra takes a picture, both for blackmail purposes and because she does acknowledge them as pretty cute together.
* SophisticatedAsHell: As in canon, Blanche mostly communicates in SpockSpeak. Unlike in canon, they are also capable of swearing, which stands out as a notable tonal shift.
-->"This is squarely a personal issue so completely irrelevant to either side's administration. And while we are not related by blood, we consider Spark family, so it is our duty to ensure that any suitors are worthy of him and screen out possibly dangerous candidates, especially if they are openly evil and also total douchebags."
* SorryImGay: Arlo attempts to get on Blanche's nerves by claiming that Candela and Blanche didn't need to disguise their intentions when they drag him to the mobile lab to interrogate him about his relationship with Spark. If they wanted a threesome, he'd totally oblige. Blanche quickly shuts him down by stating that they aren't oriented in his direction and already have an emo love interest in their life.
* {{Squee}}: Spark is described as doing this upon seeing a Zapdos wall fan at the night market, which Arlo buys for him as a birthday gift.
* STDImmunity: Averted. Before leaving Spark and Arlo to do whatever it is they do, Sierra interrogates them to make sure they've both been tested and are clean. Blanche also gives Arlo a lecture about safe sex during their and Candela's vetting of him as a love interest for Spark.
* TheStoner: A stereotypical one of these is among the patronage at the Sleepless Bakery. Candela and Arlo also share a joint during his {{Flashback}} of their past relationship.
* SubordinateExcuse: Arlo theorizes that Cliff only joined Team Rocket because he was attracted to Giovanni, their boss.
* SweetheartSipping: Defied by Arlo when Spark wants to invoke MakeOutKids during the couple's visit to the night market.
-->"If you order a beverage with two straws, I'm cutting you off."
* ThereIsOnlyOneBed: Spark and Arlo end up sharing a bed at Team GO Rocket HQ when the former needs somewhere to stay after his Luxray destroys his bed and all of the team headquarters are full in preparation for the Go Fest kickoff.
* ThisIsReality: While Candela and Arlo are discussing SheIsNotMyGirlfriend and how it's usually a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial when applied to a RomanticComedy, Arlo claims that her point is invalid because they don't live in a rom-com. Well...
* TitledAfterTheSong: All of the chapters except the first one are named after Music/EscapeTheFate or Music/FallingInReverse songs or lyrics.
* {{Tsundere}}: During their first date and video chat, Arlo alternates between displaying affection, claiming that he doesn't actually like Spark and is just hanging out with him to fulfill Sierra's assignment, and cringing with embarrassment whenever his affectionate behavior is revealed. Apparently he behaved like this while dating Candela too, since she called him this which sent him on a WikiWalk which somehow ended in him exploring YaoiGenre relationship dynamics.
* UnfortunateImplications: InUniverse, Arlo brings this up in reference to the completely submissive/scared {{Uke}} archetype being readable as normalizing abuse while he and Spark discuss how bad the movie they saw at the park was.
* VehicleBasedCharacterization: Arlo drives a black sports car featuring a number of bumper stickers, including a [[YourMom sophomoric challenge to anyone complaining about his driving]], the insignia of several bands, and a faded Team Valor emblem. This establishes his immature personality, prioritization of edginess over practicality, and that he's not as disconnected from his past as he'd like to think.
** Blanche's car is eminently practical, being a recent, but not brand new model of standard shape and featuring some decoration in the form of magnets carefully positioned to not block visibility, demonstrating Blanche's focus on practicality and safety.
* WaxingLyrical: Candela and Arlo both end up reciting sections from "Situations" by Music/EscapeTheFate in distinct conversations. Candela also blatantly uses a line from [[Music/FallingInReverse "Caught Like A Fly"]] in her final conversation with Arlo on Go Fest Day 2.
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: It's ambiguous where the setting is, or if it's even on Earth vs. the Pokemon world. Earth pop culture and Mexican food exists, but canon regions are also mentioned. All that's known for certain is that it's somewhere that it's summer and hot in June, that Team Valor HQ is within a bus trip of Orre, and that it's not Kanto, Johto, Alola, or Orre.
* {{Yandere}}: Discussed by Candela while she dissects how Arlo likely knew his OperationJealousy wouldn't have worked, suggesting that he just did it because he liked Spark and needed revenge as an excuse. She points out that depending on the genre they found themselves in, her response to Arlo dating someone else to try to get her back may be to kill the rebound rather than trying to win him back with a GrandRomanticGesture.
* YouExclamation: Upon Arlo's mystery love interest revealing himself to be Spark, her main rival among the team leaders, Sierra's only response is "You."
* YourMom: The BumperSticker on the back of Arlo's car reads "How's My Driving? Tell it to your mom! You know, so she can relay it to me when I fuck her."
* YouNeedToGetLaid: Sierra deciding Arlo needs to is what kicks off the plot.
-->Blurb from [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org/fanfic.html the author's Neocities]].
''Guys Being Dudes'' is a VideoGame/PokemonGo SlashFic written by Enforcer at [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org Draggian Universe]], also known as Tropers/NonexistentYeets.
In the months following Pokemon GO Tour: Johto, Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo has been deteriorating courtesy of his angst about his history with Candela. Sierra gets sick of it and gives him a single instruction: YouNeedToGetLaid.
So he does. [[DatingCatwoman With Spark]]. During the Go Fest 2022 kickoff event.
WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong
It was published on August 30, 2022 and can be read on the author's Neocities [[https://draggianuniverse.neocities.org/guysbeingdudes/chapter01.html here]].
!!Tropes Being Dudes:
* AbandonedPlayground: Spark and Arlo hang out at one of these near the park Go Fest is taking place at during Day 2 so they'll technically be at the park, but difficult for Spark's colleagues to find.
* AbsentMindedProfessor: Arlo is smart enough to have spearheaded Team GO Rocket's Shadow Pokemon program and oblivious enough that not only does he have to have someone walk with him to remind him of oncoming pedestrians and low-hanging trees, he doesn't notice impending DeathFromAbove when he's busy doing research on his phone.
* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: Along with several characters gaining {{Emo}} tendencies, Arlo and Candela's previous relationship and its weight on them both is given more elaboration than the source material.
* AdaptationalGenderIdentity:
**Arlo's gender isn't elaborated on in canon. He's explicitly stated to be a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} man here.
**Spark is still a man, "more or less", but mentions not fully connecting with any label, including "nonbinary".
**Blanche is referred to with neutral pronouns in canon, but their gender identity is left up to interpretation. Here, they're explicitly stated to be nonbinary.
**At the time this fanfic was written, Rhi hadn't gotten a gender confirmation in English, but most sources described them as male. They're nonbinary here.
* AdaptationalJerkass: Candela is notably meaner than she is in canon, displaying more snark and petty behavior towards her coworkers and more direct dislike of Arlo beyond her canonical feelings about her former friend joining Team GO Rocket.
**Sierra is written as AffablyEvil in her canon dialogue. Here, she states that she joined Team GO Rocket to crush people's dreams and is the least sympathetic of her trio.
* AdaptationalNationality: No one's nationalities are stated in canon. Candela and Arlo are stated to originate in regions from elsewhere in Pokemon canon, [[VideoGame/PokemonColosseum Orre]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Kanto]] respectively.
* AdaptationalNiceGuy: Arlo maintains his canonical arrogance and displays more CardCarryingVillain tendencies, but is revealed to be a nice, EndearinglyDorky person underneath with most of his arrogance being a facade.
* AdaptationalRelationshipOverhaul: Nothing is revealed about Candela and Arlo's past in canon other than that they used to be friends and on Team Valor together. Here, they're ex-lovers.
* AdaptationalSexuality: No one's sexualities are elaborated on in canon. Here, Arlo and Candela are explicitly bi, Blanche has an OriginalCharacter partner who is only referred to neutrally, and Spark has been attracted to both Arlo and the same OC. Cliff is heavily implied to be gay and it's suggested he joined Team GO Rocket because of his attraction to Giovanni.
* AffectionateGestureToTheHead: Both members of the main couple regularly pet or run their fingers through each other's hair.
* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: GenderFlipped with Spark. He describes both of his love interests as having "dark and edgy vibes". Arlo specifically works for a criminal organization and Candela mentions Spark's ex as having possibly been a supervillain.
* AllergicToLove: Sierra mentions that seeing Spark and Arlo happy makes her feel physically ill, along with Shaymin's cuteness and good vibes in general.
* AMFMCharacterization: Arlo's taste in music leaning towards the more emo end of and being described by Sierra as an "amalgam of angsty boys with squeaky voices whinily describing their exes, distorted guitar riffs that used [[ThreeChordsAndTheTruth a maximum of 3 chords]], and screaming" demonstrates his EmoTeen personality and that both his evil status and obsession with Candela may be as much performative as anything.
** Spark listens to {{Nightcore}} and girly dance-pop, demonstrating that he's InTouchWithHisFeminineSide, unabashedly enjoys "uncool" things, and in the case of the Nightcore, tried his best to find common ground with his dark and edgy ex despite their opposing tastes.
** In Blanche's car, they play inoffensive, lyric-free synth music at a reasonable enough volume that everyone can hear each other and the road, demonstrating their focus on safety and no-nonsense nature.
* AmicableExes: Despite her bitterness towards Arlo from their past as teammates and ex-lovers, Candela still gets along well enough with him to have been willing to get drunk with the Team GO Rocket trio after Go Fest 2020.
* AngelDevilShipping: The main focus of the fanfic is a romance between the nicest of the team leaders, known for his nurturing nature towards Pokemon, and a member of a villainous team with a RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver aesthetic who's compared to a demon from a ShowWithinAShow.
* AnimeHair: Spark's hair is [[SpikyHair spiky]] all on its own to the point that it [[StubbornHair blatantly refuses to be shaped into any other style]].
* AutoErotica: There's a flashback of Candela and Arlo making out in the back of her car when he comes out to her. Spark and Arlo do the same in Arlo's car after their visit to the Sleepless Bakery.
* BallsGag: On the drive to Team GO Rocket HQ, Spark and Arlo discuss this in reference to Pokeballs.
* BigDamnHeroes: Spark saving Arlo from the falling play structure.
* BlindIdiotTranslation: InUniverse, Orre Hot Topic parody Subject Debate's Shadow Lugia shirt is supposed to say their name in [[GratuitousJapanese Gratuitous Kantonian]], but what's actually printed translates to "sex scandal". Arlo, being both of Kantonian ancestry and sophomoric, finds this hilarious and it's one of his factors in buying the shirt.
* BrainsAndBondage: Arlo is just as much of an EvilGenius as in canon and gets very excited over the prospect of strapping Spark into the trunk of Team GO Rocket's CreepyStalkerVan.
* BroodingBoyGentleGirl: GenderFlipped with Spark, who serves as a softer and more outwardly affectionate counterpart to Arlo's {{Emo}} villain with a troubled past and difficulties showing affection.
* TheBroCode: Candela invokes this by name when describing how enraged she is about Spark dating her ex-boyfriend, who happens to also be [[DatingCatwoman opposite in moral alignment from them]].
* CantHoldHisLiquor: After only 2 beers at the Go Fest 2020 afterparty, Arlo ends up sitting in Spark's lap and attempting to bribe the Team Instinct leader into giving him a piggyback ride. Candela points out that it's either this or that he wasn't actually that drunk and was just using it as an excuse to get to someone he liked, with the former being unlikely, as evidence for the fact that Arlo had been attracted to Spark for a while and just used getting back at her as an excuse to get close to him.
* CantYouReadTheSign: Arlo's actions managed to get the Sleepless Bakery to put up a sign reading "No Monologuing". They also have a "No [=PDAs=]" sign, which gets used on the main couple.
* CardCarryingJerkass: Arlo literally has business cards reading "Professional Douchebag". Apparently Sierra printed them as a joke, but he keeps them around, implying that he doesn't find the title incorrect. His official reason is that they're well-made and accurately list his credentials and contact information, so he's not going to waste them.
* CardCarryingVillain: 2 out of 3 members of the Team GO Rocket trio regularly refer to themselves as "evil", say they got into the business to crush people's dreams, and that sort of thing.
* CastFullOfGay: All of the team leaders, Arlo, and Cliff are stated to be some flavor of queer.
* CavemenVsAstronautsDebate: Arlo and Candela had a Pokemon battle once over her saying [[Music/EscapeTheFate This War Is Ours was superior to Dying Is Your Latest Fashion]].
* CeilingBanger: One of the factors that drives Sierra to decide Arlo [[YouNeedToGetLaid needs to get laid]] in order to stop his descent into {{Emo}} madness is that he's been blasting {{Metalcore}} at all hours of the day and night, she lives in the room next to him, and she hasn't gotten a good night's sleep in weeks.
* CirclingMonologue: Candela paces in circles around a restrained Arlo, dissecting how the OperationJealousy he planned againt her by dating Spark wouldn't have worked and he likely knew it, suggesting he just used it as an excuse to get close to Spark.
* ClosetKey: Arlo's first response to Spark asking if he even liked guys was "Not sure. Want to find out?", implying Spark is his first male partner. It turned out that he did.
* ClosetShuffle: When Arlo smuggles Spark into Team GO Rocket HQ, he hides them in the closet in his room. The pun on the other meaning of "closet" is lampshaded by Spark and not only does Sierra see right through it, she interprets it as a LiteralMetaphor and states that Arlo really didn't need to go to all that trouble to tell them he was bisexual.
* ConversationalTroping: Happens several times, including Spark and Arlo discussing cliche YaoiGenre relationship dynamics and how they don't quite fit their situation, Candela pointing out the use of SheIsNotMyGirlfriend in RomanticComedy, and Arlo infodumping to Spark about {{Isekai}] during the movie they watch at the park, which we don't get to see.
* CoordinatedClothes: Elaphe got Spark an {{Emo}} band hoodie back when they were dating in hopes of being "one of those matchy couples", but Spark couldn't quite pull off the aesthetic and ended up not wearing it much.
* TheCorrupter: At least as a joke, Arlo enjoys getting Spark to do irresponsible or morally sketchy acts and discusses the possibility of "converting" him to TheDarkSide.
* CrackInTheSky: A glowing one of these appears on Go Fest Day 1 as the first sign of the Ultra Wormhole that will open the following day.
* CreepyStalkerVan: Team GO Rocket's official vehicle is a black, windowless van. It's so ObviouslyEvil that Spark points out that they're probably just making themselves more conspicuous.
* CrossoverCosmology: XM from VideoGame/{{Ingress}} is real in this version of the Pokemon GO universe (doubling as a [[CompanyCrossReferences Niantic cross-reference]]) and is what powers up Shadow Pokemon and raid bosses. It's also referred to as "animum", a term used for AppliedPhlebotinum in the author's other works, which take place in a different universe entirely.
* CrushBlush: Both halves of the main couple, especially Arlo, find their faces flushing a lot when they're around each other.
* CryIntoChest: Arlo grabs onto Spark and does this after Spark revives from passing out after [[ItMakesSenseInContext saving him from a falling playground structure]].
* DarkerAndEdgier: It's still the fundamentally idealistic world of VideoGame/PokemonGo and most of the edgy content is lampshaded and PlayedForLaughs, but multiple characters gain {{Emo}} tendencies, the fic doesn't shy away from sexual innuendo, death threats, and pointing out that Pokemon are capable of killing humans, and everyone is more inclined to snark at their coworkers and enemies alike than in canon.
* DatingCatwoman: The main couple consists of one of the leaders of the player teams and an admin from the main antagonistic team.
* DeathFromAbove: On a smaller scale, the AbandonedPlayground Spark and Arlo have their picnic at almost falls down on Arlo after losing what stability remained to a Shaymin's Seed Flare.
* DemonicPossession: As part of their CrazyPrepared vetting of his viability as a LoveInterest for Spark, Blanche checks Arlo for this via looking for MindControlEyes.
* DidTheyOrDidntThey: It's never stated whether Spark and Arlo had sex during the first night they spent together in Team GO Rocket HQ. They discuss it and then the scene cuts to Sierra and Cliff's annoyance at the LoudOfWar Sierra technically okayed them using to obscure any sounds they made.
* DidYouJustHaveSex: Sierra can't tell, seeing as Arlo always has some degree of warranted swagger and they both tend to have MessyHair and otherwise disheveled looks.
* DisabledInTheAdaptation: It's only mentioned once, but Candela and Arlo both are reimagined as having ADHD.
* DragonRider: Arlo picks up Spark for their first date on his Salamence, which they ride to and from the restaurant.
* EatingTheEyeCandy: Spark's disguise when he has to sleep at Team GO Rocket HQ includes some very tight pants, which Arlo evidently appreciates. Both halves of the main couple also spend quite a lot of time staring up and down each other's chests.
* ElectricLove: A logical extension from Spark's [[ElementalMotifs Elemental Motif]] from canon. The first time Arlo pets his hair during Day 1 of Go Fest in the conversation during which they officially declare themselves as boyfriends, he gets a static shock from it.
* EmoTeen: Arlo's in his 20s, but has all of the hallmarks of the archetype, being a [[LargeHam theatrical]] young man with black and red NonconformistDyedHair who listens to PostHardcore and spends a lot of time angsting about his ex. Several characters describe him as "edgy" or "emo" InUniverse. His most regular outfit is a baggy black hoodie and before joining Team Rocket, he owned at least one entire outfit from a [[FictionalCounterpart Hot Topic parody]].
* EndearinglyDorky: Both halves of the main couple feel this way about the other one. Spark appreciates Arlo trying so hard to be menacing, evil, and edgy and failing at such and Arlo can't help but smile at seeing the Team Instinct leader unabashedly dancing to {{Nightcore}}.
* EvilGenius: Arlo serves as the brains of the Team GO Rocket trio, being the most book-smart member and knowledgable about Pokemon and technology.
* EvilIsSexy: Spark isn't intimidated by Arlo's [[LargeHam hammy]] threats, but he does find them attractive.
* EvilPaysBetter: It's briefly mentioned that Arlo gets paid more than Candela, and presumably the other team leaders, do.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Invoked by Arlo. The voice distortion on his glasses gives his voice more depth and reverb when he takes over Pokestops. He also uses it with pitch alone when he's off the clock for gender affirmation purposes.
* ExhaustedEyeBags: When Arlo is seen in his bad state at the start of the story, his eyes are covered in some combination of dark bags and {{Guyliner}}, implying that along with not bathing or cleaning his room, he also hasn't been sleeping well.
* EyeColorChange: According to Arlo, his eyes used to be blue before turning red after he finished his work on the first Shadow Pokemon. It's backed up by a picture from before he joined Team GO Rocket, but it's [[UnreliableNarrator unclear if]] [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane his eyes turned red due to corrupted XM exposure or if he's wearing colored contacts]].
* FakeRelationship: This was Arlo's original plan in seducing Spark. Suffice to say, it didn't go as planned.
* FictionalCounterpart: While some things, like online services and bands, exist in their forms on Earth, companies appear to be replaced with counterparts. Subject Debate and the Sleepless Bakery serve as counterparts to Hot Topic and Insomnia Cookies, respectively.
* ForgetsToEat: Arlo admits to doing this himself and Spark mentions that Blanche also tends to.
* {{Fratbro}}: Arlo used to dress and behave as one of these while dating Candela, which he's deeply embarrassed about.
* {{Flashback}}: While he's unpacking his old clothes from Subject Debate in Orre to wear on Go Fest Day 2, seeing a sticky note from Candela starts Arlo on one about their past relationship.
* ForgottenBirthday: Spark doesn't usually celebrate his birthday because it falls during Go Fest preparation season.
* FreudianThreat: Candela threatens to rip Arlo's balls off if he [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer ever does anything to hurt Spark]]. Seeing as the intended recipient of the threat is transgender and thus lacking in that body part at the time the threat was made, it doesn't quite land.
* {{Gaydar}}: Despite not having direct knowledge of Arlo's being into guys, Candela is able to quickly assess based on his reactions to her interrogation and reports of his behavior that his attraction to Spark is not only legitimate, he's had it since at least 2020.
* GeekyTurnOn: Arlo ends up using "I love you so much" as a CatchPhrase whenever Spark does something that fits his particular brand of geekdom, like addressing him as "dark lord" or making a Music/FallingInReverse reference.
* GenderNeutralWriting: Elaphe, Spark's OriginalCharacter ex who is in a committed relationship with Blanche by the time of the fanfic, is never referred to with a gendered pronoun and doesn't have their gender identity described.
* GeniusSlob: Arlo is knowledgable about hacking and Pokemon and serves as the head of his organization's R&D department. His room is an absolute disaster area, with his floor usually being covered in stolen Pokeballs and laundry and it's implied by Candela that it may have been years since he washed his sheets. He's seen at the beginning of the story not having changed clothes or showered in weeks.
* GeniusSweetTooth: According to Arlo, his late-night research is powered by cupcake deliveries from the Sleepless Bakery.
* GloveSnap: Blanche does this before interrogating Arlo about his and Spark's relationships and it's specifically lampshaded as "like how doctors do in movies before they shove something up someone's anus".
* GogglesDoSomethingUnusual: Arlo's glasses seem to do just about everything but correcting vision, including having AugmentedReality capabilities, answering phone calls, obscuring his voice, and becoming ScaryShinyGlasses.
* GrammarNazi: Arlo regularly corrects other people's grammar, which Spark finds endearing. His colleagues just find it annoying.
* GreenThumb: As in Pokemon canon, Shaymin has the power to regrow dead plants and restore polluted land. This is expanded to being able to remove pesticides as well, with the park grass it restores coming back dotted with native ground cover and wildflowers.
* HardDrinkingPartyGirl: Candela brought a keg to Go Fest 2020, against Pokemon League regulations and her dialogue about it with Blanche suggests she's done similar things before. Based on the notice directed towards her in Blanche's car, she drinks regularly.
* HeCleansUpNicely: After first appearing having worn the same hoodie for several weeks and using body spray instead of showering, Arlo does laundry, cleans himself up, and appears for his first date with Spark in a suit, prompting this reaction from the Team Instinct leader.
* HeIsNotMyBoyfriend: Said by both halves of the main couple about each other. Lampshaded in its nature as denial by Candela.
-->"Arlo, remember when you used to take me to watch rom-coms because it made you feel like the ultimate cishet guy? ...I'd like you to name one of those rom-coms in which someone said someone wasn't their boyfriend and/or girlfriend and wasn't wrong."
* [[HerBoyfriendsJacket His Boyfriend's Jacket]]: At one point, Arlo ends up wearing one of Spark's hoodies. PlayedWith in that it isn't a hoodie Spark usually wears; it's one his ex gave him when they wanted them to have CoordinatedClothes.
* HeroicRROD: Spark experiences intense pain and passes out after his BigDamnHeroes moment rescuing Arlo from the falling AbandonedPlayground, until Shaymin heals him.
* HeyThatsMyLine: Arlo has this response after Candela calls him and Spark "twerps", a common line used by Team Rocket members throughout Pokemon canon.
* HoldingHands: Spark and Arlo hold hands during their entire visit to the night market while trying to invoke MakeOutKids.
* HoldYourHippogriffs: While insulting Arlo's haircut, Candela references a "flock of Wingulls".
* HopeCrusher: Sierra claims that she joined Team GO Rocket specifically to crush people's dreams.
* HotScientist: Arlo claims to consider Professor Willow to have a pretty good ass for his age. Of course, he might just be saying it to {{Troll}} and {{Squick}} out Candela and Blanche, who consider him equivalent to their dad.
* HumanShield: When Rhi jokingly, without anyone knowing it's a joke, threatens Arlo with their plasma cannons, he ducks behind Spark as a meat shield.
* IdTellYouButThenIdHaveToKillYou: Arlo says this as a joke when Spark asks about how he can do ScaryShinyGlasses without blinding himself.
* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: Candela makes a FreudianThreat of this nature to Arlo concerning Spark, and acknowledges it as a cliche.
* TheILoveYouStigma: Until the very end of the fic, Arlo feels weird whenever he says "I love you" to Spark, even in a joking context or when it's to annoy someone else.
* IndirectKiss: Spark and Arlo have one of these during their picnic on Go Fest Day 2 when they share a protein bar.
* InterruptedIntimacy: Candela and Blanche approach to introduce Rhi and question why Spark wasn't at the emergency meeting on Day 2 while Spark and Arlo are making out. Invoked on Candela's part since it let them get in while the couple were distracted.
* JerksUseBodySpray: Arlo does, fitting his [[CardCarryingJerkass card-carrying douchebag status]] and [[{{Manchild}} middle school boy personality]] and several jokes about it are made at his expense by both sets of team leaders. It becomes plot-relevant when a Shaymin absorbs it. Turns out it's toxic enough that it supercharges the Pokemon's Seed Flare.
* TheLadette: Candela is described by Arlo as a "jockbro", has HardDrinkingPartyGirl tendencies, mercilessly teases her coworkers and enemies alike, and invokes TheBroCode by name in reference to her issues with Spark dating her ex.
* LamePunReaction: Arlo groans whenever he sees Spark's Instagram, which he calls his "Instinctgram".
* LargeHam: Arlo's lines while taking over Pokestops are...grandiose, to say the least, and he accentuates them with overblown pretentious gestures. He apparently wrote them shortly after his breakup with Candela, which might explain some of it.
* LastHetRomance: While the gender of Spark's ex is never specified, apparently after their relationship, they realized they didn't like men and proceeded to leave him for Blanche.
* LoudOfWar: In case Spark and Arlo have sex during the first night they spend together at Team GO Rocket HQ, Sierra specifically gives Arlo permission to blast whatever music he wants as loud as he wants in an effort to avert RightThroughTheWall. So, Arlo, being the {{Troll}} he is, chooses to blast a meme song that Sierra hates, heavily implied to be [[Music/LilNasX "Old Town Road"]], at maximum volume.
* LuminescentBlush: Arlo's reaction when Spark chooses to interpret one of his Pokestop takeover quotes in a UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} context.
-->"Team GO Rocket's domination is inevitable. Submit and you may be spared."
-->"All right, then. If that's what you're into! My safeword is 'cheeseburger pizza'."
-->Arlo's glasses abruptly returned to being transparent, revealing that his face was almost as red as that streak in his hair.
* MagicalGirlfriend: Jokingly discussed by Arlo after Spark, probably jokingly, mentions the possibility of his hair always being spiky because he's part Zapdos on his mother's side.
* MakeOutKids: Spark and Arlo specifically invoke this during their visit to the night market on Spark's birthday, by his request because his ex had too much dignity to do it with him. They spend the entire time holding hands and making out in specifically visible locations, just in the name of invoking the trope and being obnoxious.
* TheMakeover: After Arlo comes out to her as a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} man during the {{Flashback}} to their relationship before Team Valor, Candela decides to take him to the mall for one of these to get him some more masculine clothes.
* {{Manchild}}: Arlo is in his 20s and has the personality of an EmoTeen as well as enjoying making innuendos a bit too much. Spark acknowledges it, deciding that he, being a UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} man, "couldn't be a preteen boy when he was a preteen, so he's making up for lost time".
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Whatever Spark did to save Arlo from the falling AbandonedPlayground isn't explained. Arlo points out that him seemingly demonstrating SuperStrength isn't implausible for someone saving their loved one, but his hair glowing and the pieces of the playground looking like they were struck by lightning don't have as easy of explanations.
* MenCantKeepHouse: Arlo's room is an absolute mess. The floor is covered in laundry and stolen Pokeballs, he's implied to not wash his sheets regularly, and the area around his computer is the only part he cleans. He also needs to be reminded to take his leftovers out of the communal fridge before they [[ItCameFromTheFridge develop their own ecosystems]].
* MerchandisingTheMonster: [[VideoGame/PokemonXD Cypher and Shadow Lugia]] are apparently popular enough in their home region of Orre for the resident Hot Topic parody to sell merchandise featuring them.
* MessOfWoe: In his angsty state at the start of the fanfic, Arlo has neglected to shower, change clothes, or clean his room in weeks.
* MindControlEyes: According to Blanche, when someone is possessed by a Pokemon, their eyes may appear an unusual color or not reflect and they won't blink when exposed to bright light.
* MisfitLabRat: Arlo is imagined as an overgrown EmoTeen here and retains his position as Team GO Rocket's main scientist.
* TheMissusAndTheEx: Arlo runs into this situation on Go Fest Day 2, with Spark as the Missus and Candela as the Ex, in a variant in which the Missus and the Ex were already friends and coworkers without his involvement.
* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Seeing as he's established as a Music/FallingInReverse fan, Arlo's Charizard, Ronnie, is probably named after Ronnie Radke.
* NonHumanNonBinary: AmbiguouslyHuman Ultra Space traveler Rhi identifies themself as nonbinary because they don't understand the humans of Pokemon Go's world's concept of gender.
* NotAMorningPerson: Arlo isn't exactly coherent when he wakes up on Go Fest Day 1 and it's stated that it will take 2 hours for him to become fully sapient.
* OhMyGods: At one point, Blanche swears to "whatever is listening".
* OneHeadTaller: Spark is substantially taller than Arlo. Justified by the latter being UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}}.
* OlderThanTheyLook: When Arlo and Candela were dating as young adults, he regularly got mistaken for a middle schooler.
* OperationJealousy: Arlo initially plans this in his relationship with Spark, under the principle that Candela seeing him with someone else will drive her to win him back, combined with him dating her coworker making it impossible to avoid and Spark being a man leading Candela to fear that she was his LastHetRomance and try even harder to win him back upon fear that she "turned him gay". None of this goes as planned.
* ParkingProblems: The Team GO Rocket trio end up parking their CreepyStalkerVan at a shopping center next to the park Go Fest takes place at because it's rather large and Sierra refuses to park next to anyone.
* PlayingWithFire: Arlo's Charizard gets ready to power up a Blast Burn when he turns to attack the Shaymin for nearly getting him killed by knocking over the AbandonedPlayground and getting Spark injured saving him. The Charizard is also shown to boost his powers by dropping wood shavings from the playground into the flame on his tail.
* PoliticallyCorrectVillain: Not only are all of the Team Rocket representatives we see completely accepting of Arlo being transgender and dating a man, their healthcare plan also covers gender-affirming surgeries and they support name changes.
* PowerGlows: After Spark does something that [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane might be]] activating ShockAndAwe powers to save Arlo, his hair glows.
* ThePowerOfLove: Somehow, Spark manages to demonstrate SuperStrength and possibly ShockAndAwe powers when Arlo is in danger of DeathFromAbove when the AbandonedPlayground gets hit with Shaymin's Seed Flare and is about to fall down on him.
* PsychoExBoyfriend: [[SignedUpForTheDental Among other reasons]], Arlo initially joined Team GO Rocket because he wanted to see Candela suffer and defy everything she stood for after they broke up.
* {{Pun}}: Spark calls his Instagram his "Instinctgram".
** "Over The Edge", the title of the first chapter, both refers to Arlo's deteriorating mental state at the start of the fic and is a pun on "edgy".
* PunchClockVillain: Arlo is very into the aesthetic of being a CardCarryingVillain and regularly refers to himself as "evil", but treats the actual Shadow Pokemon manufacturing and Pokestop takeovers like any other job. He even refers to being "on/off the clock".
* PunkInTheTrunk: Spark gets transported to Go Fest in the trunk of Team GO Rocket's CreepyStalkerVan, both to hide him from view and because they don't have seats in the back.
* PurelyAestheticGlasses: Arlo's glasses don't correct his vision and it's suggested by Spark that he might just wear them to look more intimidating, but they do have other purposes including AugmentedReality and obscuring his voice when he's doing Pokestop takeovers.
* QueerColors: Candela has a pin of the Team Valor emblem in the bisexual flag colors.
* QueerEstablishingMoment: Arlo is established as being UsefulNotes/{{Transgender}} when he asks about where Sierra left his binder after doing his laundry.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: The main colors of Arlo's outfit and hair, as in canon.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: As in the source material, Team GO Rocket's Shadow Pokemon have these. Arlo also does. It's ambiguous why, but it's implied it may have been due to exposure to corrupted XM while creating the Shadow Pokemon.
* RevengeRomance: This is why Arlo chooses Spark, one of Candela's coworkers, for his OperationJealousy. Or at least that's what he tells himself.
* RightThroughTheWall: Specifically Defied by Sierra, who instructs Spark and Arlo to blast whatever music they want as loud as they want specifically so she doesn't hear them having sex if they choose to.
* RomanticFakeRealTurn: Arlo initially claims that he's only going on the date with Spark to get back at Candela and fulfill Sierra's [[YouNeedToGetLaid assignment]]. That quickly evaporates after their first date and a revealing video chat.
* RomanticRibbing: Spark and Arlo get in a couple good-natured jabs at each other's expense. Candela also apparently solely addressed the latter as "Emo Trashlord" during the early stages of their relationship, both as this and because he wouldn't tell her his name.
* SafeWord: Spark's is apparently "cheeseburger pizza". Arlo points out that if they actually do anything ([[DidTheyOrDidntThey it's ambiguous if they do or not]]), "no" will suffice.
* {{Sarashi}}: Candela learned this technique during a martial arts camp and shows it to Arlo during the {{Flashback}} so he can use it to bind his chest until his dedicated binder arrives.
* ScaryShinyGlasses: Arlo's glasses can do this, and he activates it whenever he wants to look especially evil. Seeing as his glasses have [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual a number of bizarre capabilities]], it seems likely that he specifically modified them to do this.
* SelfieFiend: Spark logs nearly everything to his Instagram and takes a lot of selfies with Arlo when they're playing at being MakeOutKids at the night market.
* SentimentalDrunk: CardCarryingJerkass Arlo got reduced to sitting in Spark's lap and admitting to having followed him on Instagram back at Go Fest 2020 after [[CantHoldHisLiquor only having 2 beers]], according to Candela.
* SeriousBusiness: Arlo apparently cares enough about edgelording that he thinks it should have a regulating bureau.
* ShirtlessScene: Spark spends a good portion of Go Fest Day 2 shirtless after giving his hoodie to Arlo.
* ShockAndAwe: It's not exactly clear what happened, but the pieces of the fallen AbandonedPlayground Spark intercepted to save Arlo are described as being charred and split like they were struck by lightning.
* ShoppingMontage: Arlo has an extended {{Flashback}} of him and Candela, among other things, going shopping at a mall when he starts thinking about their past relationship.
* ShorterMeansSmarter: Arlo is short enough that he regularly got mistaken for a middle schooler while dating Candela and is TheSmartGuy of his trio.
* TheShortGuyWithGlasses: Arlo is described as short, wears glasses, and is the most book-smart of the Team GO Rocket leaders. Of course, his glasses are [[PurelyAestheticGlasses purely aesthetic]].
* ShoutOut:
** Arlo makes plenty of references to his music tastes throughout. Bands namedropped include Music/MyChemicalRomance, Music/BringMeTheHorizon, Music/EscapeTheFate, and Music/FallingInReverse.
** Arlo alludes to the Team Rocket motto from [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries the Pokemon anime]] when Sierra claims their motto is "Team GO Rocket doesn't give a shit about your personal life."
** After Candela called Arlo {{Tsundere}} back when they were dating, he went on a WikiWalk after looking it up on a site that's strongly implied to be Website/ThisVeryWiki.
** Not only does Arlo play VideoGame/{{Ingress}}, XM is also apparently literally real and what provides the power boost to Shadow Pokemon and raid bosses.
** One of Blanche's car magnets reads "Honk IFF you love formal logic", a reference to Webcomic/{{XKCD}}.
** While Spark and Arlo are discussing the linguistics of song lyrics, they come to the conclusion in reference to "Tik Tok" that if Music/{{Kesha}} entered and then left a party, it would produce a universe-destroying singularity.
** A song about horses that was a meme several years prior and which [[TakeThat both Sierra and Arlo hate]], but Sierra hates more, is mentioned. Based on the fic being set in 2022, it's a reference to [[Music/LilNasX "Old Town Road"]] and its MemeticMutation status.
** Arlo plans to call the Shadow Pokemon schematic he's working on at the beginning of the fic VideoGame/PokemonXD.
* ShowWithinAShow: ''My Edgelord Phase Summoned The Demon King Who Made Me His Boyfriend'', the movie Spark and Arlo watch at the park.
* SickeninglySweet: Sierra says that after Day 1, if she hears one more word about how cute Shaymin is, she's going to hurl.
* SignedUpForTheDental: Along with {{Revenge}} against Candela, Arlo joined Team Rocket because their healthcare plan covered his transition, they provided room and board, and they had mechanisms for name changes.
* SlashFic: It's a VideoGame/PokemonGo fanfic focused on a romantic relationship between two male characters.
* SleepCute: On their first night sleeping together because [[ThereIsOnlyOneBed there was only one bed]], Arlo ends up curled up on Spark's chest with the latter's arms around him. Sierra takes a picture, both for blackmail purposes and because she does acknowledge them as pretty cute together.
* SophisticatedAsHell: As in canon, Blanche mostly communicates in SpockSpeak. Unlike in canon, they are also capable of swearing, which stands out as a notable tonal shift.
-->"This is squarely a personal issue so completely irrelevant to either side's administration. And while we are not related by blood, we consider Spark family, so it is our duty to ensure that any suitors are worthy of him and screen out possibly dangerous candidates, especially if they are openly evil and also total douchebags."
* SorryImGay: Arlo attempts to get on Blanche's nerves by claiming that Candela and Blanche didn't need to disguise their intentions when they drag him to the mobile lab to interrogate him about his relationship with Spark. If they wanted a threesome, he'd totally oblige. Blanche quickly shuts him down by stating that they aren't oriented in his direction and already have an emo love interest in their life.
* {{Squee}}: Spark is described as doing this upon seeing a Zapdos wall fan at the night market, which Arlo buys for him as a birthday gift.
* STDImmunity: Averted. Before leaving Spark and Arlo to do whatever it is they do, Sierra interrogates them to make sure they've both been tested and are clean. Blanche also gives Arlo a lecture about safe sex during their and Candela's vetting of him as a love interest for Spark.
* TheStoner: A stereotypical one of these is among the patronage at the Sleepless Bakery. Candela and Arlo also share a joint during his {{Flashback}} of their past relationship.
* SubordinateExcuse: Arlo theorizes that Cliff only joined Team Rocket because he was attracted to Giovanni, their boss.
* SweetheartSipping: Defied by Arlo when Spark wants to invoke MakeOutKids during the couple's visit to the night market.
-->"If you order a beverage with two straws, I'm cutting you off."
* ThereIsOnlyOneBed: Spark and Arlo end up sharing a bed at Team GO Rocket HQ when the former needs somewhere to stay after his Luxray destroys his bed and all of the team headquarters are full in preparation for the Go Fest kickoff.
* ThisIsReality: While Candela and Arlo are discussing SheIsNotMyGirlfriend and how it's usually a SuspiciouslySpecificDenial when applied to a RomanticComedy, Arlo claims that her point is invalid because they don't live in a rom-com. Well...
* TitledAfterTheSong: All of the chapters except the first one are named after Music/EscapeTheFate or Music/FallingInReverse songs or lyrics.
* {{Tsundere}}: During their first date and video chat, Arlo alternates between displaying affection, claiming that he doesn't actually like Spark and is just hanging out with him to fulfill Sierra's assignment, and cringing with embarrassment whenever his affectionate behavior is revealed. Apparently he behaved like this while dating Candela too, since she called him this which sent him on a WikiWalk which somehow ended in him exploring YaoiGenre relationship dynamics.
* UnfortunateImplications: InUniverse, Arlo brings this up in reference to the completely submissive/scared {{Uke}} archetype being readable as normalizing abuse while he and Spark discuss how bad the movie they saw at the park was.
* VehicleBasedCharacterization: Arlo drives a black sports car featuring a number of bumper stickers, including a [[YourMom sophomoric challenge to anyone complaining about his driving]], the insignia of several bands, and a faded Team Valor emblem. This establishes his immature personality, prioritization of edginess over practicality, and that he's not as disconnected from his past as he'd like to think.
** Blanche's car is eminently practical, being a recent, but not brand new model of standard shape and featuring some decoration in the form of magnets carefully positioned to not block visibility, demonstrating Blanche's focus on practicality and safety.
* WaxingLyrical: Candela and Arlo both end up reciting sections from "Situations" by Music/EscapeTheFate in distinct conversations. Candela also blatantly uses a line from [[Music/FallingInReverse "Caught Like A Fly"]] in her final conversation with Arlo on Go Fest Day 2.
* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: It's ambiguous where the setting is, or if it's even on Earth vs. the Pokemon world. Earth pop culture and Mexican food exists, but canon regions are also mentioned. All that's known for certain is that it's somewhere that it's summer and hot in June, that Team Valor HQ is within a bus trip of Orre, and that it's not Kanto, Johto, Alola, or Orre.
* {{Yandere}}: Discussed by Candela while she dissects how Arlo likely knew his OperationJealousy wouldn't have worked, suggesting that he just did it because he liked Spark and needed revenge as an excuse. She points out that depending on the genre they found themselves in, her response to Arlo dating someone else to try to get her back may be to kill the rebound rather than trying to win him back with a GrandRomanticGesture.
* YouExclamation: Upon Arlo's mystery love interest revealing himself to be Spark, her main rival among the team leaders, Sierra's only response is "You."
* YourMom: The BumperSticker on the back of Arlo's car reads "How's My Driving? Tell it to your mom! You know, so she can relay it to me when I fuck her."
* YouNeedToGetLaid: Sierra deciding Arlo needs to is what kicks off the plot.
